Larry the cat, the U.K.'s most famous feline, marks 15 years on Sunday (February 15, 2026) as the country's Chief Mouser patrolling the corridors of power around number 10 Downing Street.Recruited to deal with a rodent problem, Larry arrived at the Prime Minister's official residence on February 15, 2011.15 years ago today I arrived on Downing Street in a cage.I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong.Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole.Bill and Bob - I'm coming for… pic.twitter.com/Mx52NJg93W— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) February 15, 2026He was adopted from the renowned London animal shelter, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, when he was believed to be about four years old. David Cameron was Prime Minister at the time.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia to 10 Downing Street as they watch Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, crossing the street in London on January 20, 2026.
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Since then, the white and tabby cat, officially introduced on Downing Street's website as the "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office", has reigned supreme from the country's most photographed doorstep.His official biography on the Downing Street website says apart from rodent control: "Larry spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality."He has lived through six Prime Ministers, from Mr. Cameron to Keir Starmer, weathered the storms of Brexit, Covid-19, the chaos of "partygate," Liz Truss's 49-day whirlwind occupation, and the more orderly months under Rishi Sunak.
